Pilots baseball split with Mt. Vernon

by | Mar 31, 2018 | Headlines, RRSN News | 0 comments

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – A third and final game between Mount Vernon Nazarene University Baseball (16-12, 5-5 CL) and Bethel (10-16, 2-8 CL) is set for Saturday, March 31 at noon, as the Cougars and Pilots split in a doubleheader Friday.

Game one was a 4-0 result in seven innings, as starting pitcher Clint Conner had a great outing in the complete game shutout. MVNU’s offense provided Conner with the early cushion by scoring all four of its runs in the first three innings, and the sophomore right-hander from Dublin, Ohio did the rest, finishing with a career-high eight strikeouts while allowing just four hits.

Drew Ritchey‘s double to right center-field in the second inning was a key hit, as it drove in two.

MVNU looked well on its way to two straightforward victories on its home field over the Pilots, but Bethel had other plans as it came back from 4-1 down in the final inning of game two to take a 5-4 lead.

Despite the disappointment of letting a late lead slip away, MVNU was able to plate one in the bottom of the ninth inning with a Chris Kline single to right field to drive in Nick Moser. Moser was the catalyst to start the inning, as he stroked a triple down the right field line past the diving first baseman.

In extra innings, MVNU let an opportunity get away in the tenth inning with the bases loaded and one out, as the Pilots got a rare 1-2-3 double play to get out of trouble and push it to the 11th.

The top of the 12th inning was a wild one, and when the dust had settled the Pilots claimed a four-run advantage following some timely hits and a MVNU error. The Cougars continued to battle and would eventually get the tying run to the plate in the bottom half, but a fly out to shallow center field sealed the win for the visitors and set the stage for the grudge match Saturday.

Jake Glover threw six scoreless innings for the Cougars, while Jesse Staudt, Logan Kottenbrook, and Kline each had two RBI to contribute from the dish.

Saturday’s game is set for 12 noon on Cougar Field, and for those fans who are unable to attend, coverage is available at wnzr.tv.

Related Stories

Big 7th Inning Propels Boone Grove to Second State Championship

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org INDIANAPOLIS - Thanks to a five-run seventh inning, Boone Grove completed its mission. The Wolves of second-year coach Sean Riley broke from a 1-1 tie with that five-run outburst and claimed the Class 2A state championship with a...

Indianapolis Lutheran routs Kouts for first baseball state championship

By Rich Torres, Special to IHSAA.org INDIANAPOLIS – With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Indianapolis Lutheran junior Gage Meaney reached second base for a third time Friday night, and the Saints’ fans packed inside Victory Field immediately rose to their feet....

58th annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals Preview

Rosters, statistics, season results and game notables for this weekend's 58th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals at Victory Field. News Release https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-25%20Baseball%20Preview.pdf

58th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals

Friday, June 20 Class 1A State Championship 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 CT | Kouts (27-6) vs. Indianapolis Lutheran (20-10) Class 3A State Championship 8 pm ET / 7 CT | Andrean (30-3) vs. Jasper (28-6) Saturday, June 21 Class 2A State Championship 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 CT | Boone...

Cathedral withstands late rally to win first softball crown

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Cathedral’s Anna Moore knew this was her time to come through for her team. Trailing Hanover Central, 2-1, in the fourth inning of the Class 3A championship game, Moore came to the plate with two on base. She...

Tecumseh wins sixth softball crown, first in Class 2A

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Class 1A or 2A, it doesn’t seem to matter for the Tecumseh Braves. Coach Gordon Wood’s top-ranked squad claimed its second-straight and sixth state championship in program history with a 2-0 victory over No. 3...

Crown Point’s Liezert strikes out 16, Bulldogs win second crown

By Rich Torres, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE – For some teams, a nearly 17-hour, overnight rain delay would derail anyone’s championship focus. For Class 4A Crown Point, Friday night’s postponement of the 40th annual IHSAA softball state finals into Saturday...

Rainford fans 17, North Newton secures first championship

By Will Willems, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Sydney Rainford was on a mission. After three years of disappointing post-season results, Rainford knew this was her last chance to achieve the ultimate goal with her North Newton Spartan teammates of winning the...